| Author | Message | ||
     Ingemar |
I was coming out of a long left sweeper. Road was dry and everything looked oke. Immediately followed after the sweeper comes a sharper right turn onto the highway. My speed was high, nearing the revlimit in 3rd coming out of the long sweeper. I slowed down a tad and prepared for the sharper turn onto the highway. What I wasn't expecting was that right in the middle of that turn there is a change in tarmac and that was still wet. The bike must have slid sideways a yard and a half and made this big wobble like it was about to throw me off. I was leaned over pretty far when that happened (I later noticed I touched the edge of my tire) and I ended up in the other lane because of that. Now this may sound weird to some but this whole deal didn't scare me. Even at that moment the bike didn't feel like it was out of control. I was able to keep my head cool, I didn't stiffen up, nor did I panic. I didn't close the throttle, no brakes. I just let it go and kept my hands on the bars and feet on the pegs. I am convinced that my steering damper has saved my butt on this one. I'm pretty sure this would have ended in a tank slapper and/or high sider without it. I realize I have been extremely lucky today. This could have ended very, VERY ugly. I *know* I shouldn't be racing like this on the street ... I thank God I didn't crash today and that He has granted me another warning. | ||
| Cruisin |
Glad to see you're okay...springtime riding always does make me a bit nervous. I've got my damper on the way...I think they're a worthwhile investment... | ||
| Pcmodeler |
Good thing there wasn't a car in that lane. After some of the tales on the board, I may have to consider a damper as well. I know there's a few times when I pull air on the front wheel and it starts doing a bit of wobble when the front wheel reconnects with the ground. | ||
| Elkman |
Does anybody have a good line on a quality steering dampener? | ||
| Cruisin |
See Daves at Appleton or Al at American Sport Bike... Both have steering dampers, and the LSL seems to be the way to go... | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
Hopefully this year wont be as bad as the last couple with riders going down left & right. Perhaps if we would check our ego's at home & leave the racing to the track we can all escape this year with both our bikes & our bodies in 1 piece? I know im as guilty as anyone of not always exactly following my own advice.....but I am working on it. | ||
| Glitch |
Hopefully this year wont be as bad as the last couple with riders going down left & right. Amen Brother Dyna, amen. | ||
| Cruisin |
Unfortunately some of us don't have access to (or money for) track days - believe me - I'd be there way too often :-) But that still means I have to keep within my limits. By knowing what I and the bike can do I'm a lot less likely to get into trouble (at least, with the bike - I'm keeping my mouth shut about LEO's). | ||
| Kowpow225 |
I'm impressed Ingemar. No panic, no brakes, just smooth ridin'. I rode on dirt for some time, and I'd still second guess myself in a situation like that! Glad to hear you pulled her through. | ||
| Grndskpr |
I know im as guilty as anyone of not always exactly following my own advice.....but I am working on it That borders on comical, what 172 at night in Wi Humm R | ||
| Cataract2 |
So, did you have to change your shorts? | ||
| Ortegakid |
Out here in sunny cali,(a joke,a joke, lots of rain),it has been very entertaining on my road of late,fortunately the water is usually in the same places. Have had that scenario more than i'd like to admit lately,'tho, try not to over react, bike has not failed me yet, don't have a damper,might be time to get one! Glad you survived also! | ||
| Buell666 |
GET THE LSL. IF I DIDNT HAVE ONE ON MY BIKE, I PROBABBLY WOULD HAVE DIED TODAY. I WAS GOING ABOUT 120-130, HIT A BUMP IN THE RD, GOT THROWN TO THE OTHER LANE (THE OUTER LANE IN THE DIRECTION I WAS GOING ON A DIVIDED RD. SATTELITE BLVD, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO RIDE IN GA) AND GOT A REALLY VIOLENT TANK SLAPPER, EVEN WITH THE LSL. THE WHOLE TIME THIS WAS HAPPENING, I WAS RIDING ABOUT 1-2 INCHES FROM THE CURB ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CORRECTED IT AS FAST AS I COULD, BUT IT STARTED HAPPENING ALL OVER AGAIN A FEW SECONDS LATER. I CORRECTED IT AGAIN, AND FINALLY GOT TO A STRAIGHTER PART OF THE RD. MY BUDDY AND I PULLED OVER TO A PARKING LOT ON THE SIDE OF THE RD. HE WAS IN HIS SUPRA, I WAS ON MY XB. I REMEMBER MY LEFT FOOT PEG FOLDING UP AND I HIT MY KNEE ON THE FRAME. HE SAID HE SAW A BUNCH OF ORANGE SPARKS. HE JUST KNEW I WAS GOING DOWN. I WASNT SCARED, BUT I DID HAVE TO THINK FAST. I HAVE NEVER LEANED THAT BIKE SO HARD IN MY LIFE. THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS, IF YOU KNOW YOUR F*****G UP, DONT PANIC, THINK QUICK, RELAX, AND HOPE TO GET THROUGH IT IN ONE PIECE. I WOULD BET MY LIFE THAT IF I DIDNT HAVE THAT STEERING DAMPER, I WOULD HAVE EITHER GOT REALLY BADLY HURT, OR LOST MY LIFE. | ||
| Njbuell |
Go for the steering damper. I do not have one on my XB YET but I have been toying with the idea. I have had them on previous (Japanese) sportbikes with success. They also help when coming down off of wheelies. | ||
| Al_lighton |
steering damper=good tank slapper=bad I'm a big fan of steering dampers, more so after seeing god on my wife's SV650 a couple years ago after hitting a large rock in the road. And I wasn't going 120 or doing anything crazy. One second, life's good, the next, I'm up off the seat over the handlebars doing a tank slapper in the oncoming traffic lane. damped out when I fell back to the seat on the now flat rear tire, never went down. But a steering damper would have made for a LOT less drama that day. Probably a better idea to spend money on a damper before things like exhausts and such, IMHO. Al | ||
| Buells Rule! (Dyna in disguise) |
That borders on comical, what 172 at night in Wi Humm R It was dusk  And improved on that Rog, 178 mph on LPGA Blvd in Daytona. Course that was in daylight. |
